Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
On July 25, 2023, Rebecca Viagran, President of the Texas South Business Partnership (TSBP), attended the third South Texas Mayors’ Alliance of Cities meeting. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, one of the founders of the Alliance, invited her to discuss her vision and strategies for supporting the economic development of the South Texas region. The meeting took place at the Mission EDC building.
Present in this gathering are Norie Garza, Mayor of Mission; Norma Sepulveda, Mayor of Harlingen; David Suarez, Mayor of Weslaco and Ramiro Garza, Mayor of Edinburg, Texas. Also, Alex Mead representing Texas Regional Bank, Daniel Silva of RGV Partnership, and Ron Garza, UTRGV. Also present is Teclo Garcia, Chief Executive Officer for Mission Economic Development Corp.
Viagran is not new to serving her community. She spent eight years as a San Antonio council member, during which she worked closely with Mayor Nirenberg. In January of this year, she transitioned to her current role as CEO of the TSBP, a position that further empowers her to advocate for change and development in the region.
The TSBP, originally the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, rebranded in 2022 to better reflect its mission and geographical reach. The goal was to continue growing beyond Bexar County, creating an inclusive organization that supports development in the entire South Texas region. The mission of the partnership is to unify business leaders and economic development councils to foster regional growth.
Viagran shared the partnership’s vision of South Texas, starting from the northern part, like Dewees County and San Patrizio, and going further south down Interstate 37. Interestingly, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley lie within the TSBP region, making them key areas of the partnership’s focus.
Under Viagran’s leadership, the partnership is home to 500 members, ranging from individual entrepreneurs and local businesses to global corporations like AT&T, Port Corpus Christi, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas. Higher education institutions are also key players in the partnership, reflecting the diversity of stakeholders engaged in this regional development mission.
One of the key goals of the TSBP is to ensure a qualified workforce for employers while also promoting and creating infrastructure investments in the region. In addition, the partnership is dedicated to supporting policy programs and investments that encourage businesses and residents to stay and prosper in the South Texas region.
Viagran highlighted the alignment of the partnership’s goals with the South Texas Mayors’ Alliance of Cities, as both entities acknowledge their rich cultural history and embrace the economic opportunities within their reach. They aim to resolve challenges collectively and create an environment where businesses and residents can thrive.
With only seven months in her current role, Viagran is ready and excited about what lies ahead. When invited by Mayor Nirenberg to be part of this endeavor, she didn’t hesitate, fully recognizing the alignment of their visions. This enthusiasm is also rooted in her past role as the inaugural workforce and economic development director for Texas A&M San Antonio, which solidified her understanding of the region’s growth potential.
Viagran believes that collaboration and partnership are key to achieving regional development goals. She’s eager to leverage her new position to engage in productive discussions, share her insights, and offer opportunities for collaboration, all while remaining open to learning from others. This dynamism and resilience reflect the partnership’s mantra: “All roads lead south,” encapsulating their commitment to the growth and development of the South Texas region.
